Selective Drain Use After Pancreatic Resection Shows No Harm

Selective omission of operative drains in pancreatic surgeries doesn’t worsen perioperative outcomes.

• In a study of 2,607 patients (1,855 pancreaticoduodenectomy, 752 distal pancreatectomy), outcomes with and without drains were comparable.
• Complications, 90-day mortality, and hospital stays were similar for those with a clinically relevant pancreatic fistula: no significant differences were found.
• Notably, patients without a fistula who had drains stayed in the hospital longer and experienced more thromboembolic events.

Surgeons can cautiously consider drain omission in their procedures without compromising patient safety.